Carb Crash

There's one thing I wasn't quite prepared for in this moderate protein diet I've undertaken.... the inevitable carb crash.  One day I'm fine, happy, running well and enjoying life (See Tuesday's post).  The next day I pick a fight with my husband about the point of life (not in the religious sense but in the why the hell do we bother sort of way), barely make it through a 20 mile ride (averaging 16 mph for gosh sakes), and completely drag through my day. 

During said bike ride (my slowest in years) my cycling buddy asks me if I've eaten breakfast cause it looks like I'm having a carb crash.  At this point I confess that I've committed to this crazy eating plan in which I've given up all things which might provide me an ounce of enjoyment in my day and am thinking of bringing home a bottle of euthanasia solution after work.  After the laughter subsides (ya, some friend eh?) he tells me not to worry because suicidal tendencies are normal when carb depleted. 

And in defense of the meal plan it's not really carb restricted, I'm just beginning to think that I may have underestimated my caloric needs for the day and went a little too low on the calorie intake.  Whoops.  I have, on more than one occasion, had to go to bed early (as in 7:30 instead of 8) because if I stayed awake another minute I was going to raid the cereal cabinet.  Hmm.  Don't think I'm supposed to be going to bed hungry. 

And to top it off I'm supposed to be racing this weekend.  Ya, brilliant me signed up for a half ironman triathlon.  And neglected to see the fact that I had no training on my schedule between May 31 and, well, now.  So I am going into this very under prepared.   A few months back when I clicked "send" on the registration form I thought it sounded like fun.  Now... not so much.  It is going to be a torture fest.  OK, I guess that does sound a little like fun.  But last year I did sooooo well at this race!  And this year I'm going to be sucking it up!!!

Anyhoo, stepping off my platform and back to reality, it will be a fun weekend.  I've always had a weird relationship with this race.  The first year I raced it I raced on pure anger and hatred.  It was 3 days after my husband's surgery and I was mad mad mad at the world.  Anger, as it turns out, is a powerful motivator.  (See:  http://runnerchick-skirtgirl.blogspot.com/2009/07/mountain-man-race-report.html ).  I completely smashed myself and surprised myself with a decent performance.  Last year it was such a perfect day.  Everything went according to plan and was the smoothest race I've probably ever had.  (See:  http://runnerchick-skirtgirl.blogspot.com/2010/08/mountain-man-triathlon.html).  I was motivated by faith in my training and my fitness level.  This year?  I think I will be motivated by fear!  Fear of failure.  Fear of being beaten.  Fear of looking like a fool and coming in 30 minutes slower than last year which is entirely possible.  But fear can be a good motivator too so I'm interested to see how we work together on Sunday.